For the best outcome, you and your family can rely on our caring family law firm to help with child, youth and family support
Jenny Beck, who heads our family law team, is sensitive to the emotional turmoil that often accompanies family matters. At all times, our team wants the best outcome for you, both in the short and long term. Backed by many years of experience in the areas of family law and family law litigation, Jenny is the best child custody lawyer in Otago and is well equipped to help your family. You will receive sound legal advice from our Dunedin lawyers every step of the way, whether you need a child custody or divorce lawyer or knowledgeable family law solicitor. As well as providing a caring family law service, our team can also assist with employment law advice and property law in Dunedin. Contact Jenny Beck Law to book your consultation today.
Specialising in a range of legal services
You can contact us about any of the following speciality areas:
- Family court litigation – Family Court and High Court
- Domestic Protection Orders
- Child, youth and family matters
- Care of children, child custody, child custody for fathers, parenting and contact disputes
- Parenting orders and parenting agreements
- Guardianship disputes
- Relocation of children – within New Zealand and overseas
- Hague Convention matters
Navigating family property law can be difficult. Allow our family law attorneys to expertly guide you
There is often confusion over relationship property and separate property. To offer some basic clarification, relationship property must be divided between you at the end of a relationship, whereas separate property remains with the person who owns it. Our Dunedin custody solicitors specialise in family property including:
Relationship Property Agreements • Contracting Out Agreements • Property Sharing Agreements • Relationship Property Litigation
- the family home and chattels
- any property acquired by either partner before the relationship, intended for the benefit of and used by both partners
- property owned jointly, or in equal shares by the spouses or partners
- property acquired by either spouse or partner during the relationship (excluding gifts and inheritances)
- income earned during the relationship
- joint debts
- insurance on the spouses’ or partners’ relationship property
- superannuation, including KiwiSaver funds or life insurance, which has built up during the relationship
- gifts or inheritances which the owning partner allows to become mixed with other relationship property
- property which both spouses or partners agree is relationship property
- increases in the value of relationship property, income from it, or money from the sale of it
- any property acquired by either spouse or partner while they were not living together as a couple
- income that is acquired from separate property
- any increase in the value of separate property, unless it is caused by the actions of the other spouse or partner or by the use of relationship property
- family heirlooms
- gifts and inherited property which a spouse or partner receives during a relationship, unless they are mixed with relationship property
Your eligibility for legal aid services for family law issues
Legal aid is government funding to pay for your lawyer when you cannot afford one. Please be aware that you may be required to repay some or all of your grant of legal aid. At Jenny Beck Law we are qualified to provide legal aid services in the areas of family law, civil law and employment law. Legal aid rates are set by the Ministry of Justice and they also set the guideline hours and fixed fees for any work undertaken.To apply for legal aid there must be a dispute and reasonable grounds for a grant of aid. You must also fit the financial requirements. To apply, you must first meet with us to discuss the grounds for a grant of aid. We will help you complete the application.
If you are granted legal aid, we submit invoices in relation to your grant of aid to Legal Services and provide you with copies. Legal Services will write to you about any conditions or repayment obligations that you may have in relation to the grant of Legal Aid and your rights as an applicant for or recipient of legal aid. Please read these letters carefully and keep them for future reference. Legal aid is not always free. We can provide you with a list of the Ministry of Justice legal aid rates and fixed fees at any time on request.
If you are in receipt of a grant of legal aid, please be aware the Ministry of Justice will normally have a charge on any funds or property recovered as a result of the work we do for you. They will require payment by us before the balance is paid to you. If you do owe a debt to the Ministry, on any settlement we are required to hold back funds owed.
You may have a prescribed repayment amount payable to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry will advise you of this amount and may require interim repayment. If you do not make payment as required, your grant of aid may be withdrawn. Additionally, you may need to make a final lump sum repayment towards the cost of services. The Ministry of Justice may request that a Statutory Charge be registered over any property you own.
If legal aid is not granted or is withdrawn, you will be responsible for paying for our fees personally at our standard hourly rate for any work carried out.
When you need to find a lawyer you can trust, Jenny Beck Law is your answer. Contact us to book your consultation.
You may have a prescribed repayment amount payable to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry will advise you of this amount and may require interim repayment. If you do not make payment as required, your grant of aid may be withdrawn. Additionally, you may need to make a final lump sum repayment towards the cost of services. The Ministry of Justice may request that a Statutory Charge be registered over any property you own.
If legal aid is not granted or is withdrawn, you will be responsible for paying for our fees personally at our standard hourly rate for any work carried out.
When you need to find a lawyer you can trust, Jenny Beck Law is your answer. Contact us to book your consultation.
The Ministry of Justice evaluates each Legal Aid Application based on the individual’s income, assets, financial situation and details of the dispute. If you think you may be eligible for Legal Aid please tell us and bring with you to your first appointment:
a. Confirmation of your income; or
b. Recent bank account statement.
Many issues that arise after a family separation can often be resolved through discussion and mediation, including disputes related to property and children. We can assist you to reach an agreement that works best for your family. Court Applications are typically reserved for urgent situations or when mediation has been unsuccessful in resolving a dispute. We are experienced in the Family Court and can assist you to navigate the process and know when it is time to make a Court Application.
Yes. The law requires both parties to a relationship property agreement to obtain independent legal advice before signing the agreement. This is to ensure that you are fully informed about the effects and implications of the agreement.
You can apply for a dissolution of your marriage once you have been living apart for at least two years.
All decisions about the child’s care and upbringings. This includes decisions such as:
- Where the child lives;
- What school the chid attends;
- Medical treatment;
- What the child’s culture/religion will be; and
- Any change to the child’s name.